Chapter Sixty-Five
Yinreng naturally didn't know. If it were the reign title 'Yongzheng,' Jialuo might have heard of it, but as a name, especially such an ordinary and unadorned one, he really didn't know.
Jialuo's inner thoughts came through layer after layer, but she still couldn't get the information she wanted.
Jialuo looked at Yinreng in front of her with a puzzled expression, seemingly not understanding why he didn't answer after asking the question.
Could it be that I guessed wrong?
That's right. His Highness the Crown Prince would never think of trying to win over Mingzhu. However, if he did manage to win Mingzhu over, his elder brother would surely be furious. So, why didn't His Highness the Crown Prince think of this when he was fighting with his elder brother before?
Jialuo, completely devoid of political sensitivity, had already begun to drift into the distance, not thinking at all that there was anything wrong with her idea.
Yinreng affectionately stroked his Crown Princess's head and slowly said, "Mingzhu will not be content to fall behind Suo'etu. For now, things are fine as they are."
So the Crown Princess knew nothing at all?
Yinreng thought for a moment, perhaps it was because "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" and the Crown Princess had not studied history?
He chuckled helplessly. No wonder. If the Crown Princess knew she was destined to be deposed, perhaps she wouldn't have thought this way.
"Crown Princess, if I am deposed in the future, will you regret marrying me?" Yinreng, perhaps infected by Yinti's melancholy, felt a pang of sadness and blurted out the words without thinking. The instant he uttered the question, Yinreng regretted his words.
"Why would I regret it? I married you because of who you are, not because of your status." Jia Luo answered before the Crown Prince could pretend to dodge the question.
From the moment I surfaced, I've loved you to the point of obsession.
People say you shouldn't meet someone too amazing when you're young, or you'll never forget them. You're so wonderful; if I knew I could marry you, I'd be so happy.
What does it matter whether the crown prince is deposed or not? As long as it's you, everything is fine.
Now that the crown prince has been deposed, what will we eat and drink? Shouldn't we prepare some money?
[No, those people in the Imperial Household Department are opportunistic and sycophantic; even money might not be of any use. Should we start preparing to escape?]
If I'm crippled, I'll definitely be imprisoned. There's no way to escape. I can only accept my fate.
Jialuo first showered the Crown Prince with sweet words, making his heart feel as if it were soaking in honey.
Sure enough, he said it himself: how could the Crown Princess not like someone as talented as him?
However, the Crown Princess's thoughts always tended to wander to all sorts of random places. But after following the Crown Princess's lead, Yinreng also began to consider the same question.
Yes, if I am deposed in the future and imprisoned in Xian'an Palace with the Crown Princess, it doesn't matter if I suffer, but what if the Crown Princess and Hongyao suffer?
Most of the Imperial Household Department's people... no, they need to be purged. We need to leave some of our own people behind and secretly infiltrate them.
He also had to be absolutely loyal; if his status as crown prince fell, he would run away...
"Your Highness, why are you suddenly bringing this up? Could it be that Father has made some new move that you've noticed?" Jialuo nervously leaned forward and whispered in Yinreng's ear.
Upon hearing this, Yinreng chuckled, "No, I simply wanted to see if the Crown Princess was truly sincere towards me."
How could I possibly ask such a question? If I were just saying it casually, wouldn't you be fooled?
[Your Highness is too naive. I don't know how they've managed to fight with my elder brother for so long. But, judging from their usual interactions, it's like two chickens pecking at each other, which makes sense, doesn't it?]
Her beautiful eyes darted around, and it was hard to tell if she was thinking about something impolite.
Yinreng: Yes, if someone deceives me, I will know it.
However, he didn't mention this to the Crown Princess, but instead inquired about the future, "Crown Princess, now that opium is banned, does that mean Westerners won't harm our Great Qing anymore?"
I don't want to hear the Crown Princess talk about her relationship with my elder brother anymore. Also, what do you mean by "chickens pecking at each other"? Is this an insult to my elder brother or to him?
"Huh? Why are you asking me this?" Jialuo turned to look at Yinreng in surprise, but before Yinreng could answer, she had already come up with a reason for him.
It must be because I'm too smart; even the Crown Prince had to admit it, hehehe.
"I think that since the Westerners failed this time, they will definitely have other ways to harm people. You know, our Great Qing Dynasty is a great country with a vast territory and abundant resources, with gold and silver. How could they possibly think of stopping here?"
Jialuo rejected Yinreng's idea immediately; how could she possibly stop there?
She didn't understand the Qing Dynasty; she only knew that modern history was a history of humiliation, the partitioning of China, and that the last great leader led the people to victory.
Why were Western powers able to invade? The Western powers became powerful after the Industrial Revolution, while the Qing Dynasty closed itself off from the world and failed to keep up with the changes in the world. In the end, it fell behind and was beaten!
Yinreng's eyes flickered a few times. Closed-door policy? Backward and vulnerable to attack? How could the Qing Dynasty be so weak?
"Your Highness, think about it. Why didn't our Qing Dynasty think of making things like Western clocks and mirrors before? Aren't there many aspects where we are inferior to them, but we just can't see them?"
Jialuo tried to persuade Yinreng. Anyway, all she knew was that during the First Sino-Japanese War, Empress Dowager Cixi misappropriated the Beiyang Fleet's military funds for her 60th birthday celebration. How many tens of millions of taels of silver was it? Twenty million? Two million? Even the cannons were full of sand.
In high school history courses, the most frequently covered topic is modern history, and I've also watched quite a few anti-Japanese war dramas.
"Your Highness, you're right." Who is this Empress Dowager Cixi? Tens of millions of taels of silver as a birthday gift? And this was during a war? It's infuriating!
"Crown Princess, how many more years do you think our Great Qing Dynasty can last?" Yinreng asked, his tone seemingly casual and indifferent.
"For thousands of generations." How would I know that? I'm terrible at history; I'm practically a prime example of someone who's good for nothing but eating. All I know is that the Qing Dynasty has been gone for a long time.
Yinreng's eyes swirled with a deep, dark gloom. Was the Qing Dynasty doomed?
"No dynasty lasts forever. Even the Ming Dynasty only lasted 276 years." Yinreng chuckled. It was normal for the Qing Dynasty to fall, and he shouldn't dwell on it so much.
"I don't know about that, but as long as the emperor is wise, it can last for several generations. Your Highness, you must raise your children well in the future."
Jialuo thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement with the Crown Prince's words, reminding him that it would be good for the Qing Dynasty and its people to cultivate more wise and virtuous rulers.
Anyway, she really can't do anything.
All I can do is follow the arrangements of the clever people, and just eat, drink, and take care of His Highness the Crown Prince and Hongyao.
Seeing that the Crown Prince seemed quite energetic and wanted to talk to her about matters of state, Jialuo felt a little uneasy and pressed forward, "Your Highness, since you have so much free time and energy, why don't we play some games?"
If Father Emperor finds out, he will definitely suspect that I am trying to interfere in politics.
Clearly, I really don't know anything.
Jialuo was also powerless to do anything; she was afraid that the more she did, the more mistakes she would make.
The moment Yinreng was pinned down, he roughly knew that he couldn't get any more information from the Crown Princess. It didn't matter; there was still plenty of time, and he could take his time.
Holding the Crown Princess in his arms, he was thinking about Westerners. Since the West could become so powerful through the Industrial Revolution, then their Great Qing Dynasty would not be inferior to others.
The only obstacle is... the Emperor's policy of closing the country to the outside world and prohibiting maritime trade. It was initially intended to prevent Japanese pirates from committing atrocities, but he had also said before that he could not imprison his children in the house and not let them out just to prevent them from being bullied.
This isn't protection; this is cowardice.
Having grown up under the pampered care of Emperor Kangxi, Yinreng naturally possessed a strong sense of pride and confidence. How could he possibly allow his father to make such a cowardly decision?
But it doesn't matter, there's still plenty of time. Anyway, Father Emperor still has more than twenty years to sit on the throne. As for me... I'm afraid it won't be my turn. So I'll do what I can to make the Qing Dynasty stronger.
But right now, the most important thing is... to make the Crown Princess more comfortable.
the next day.
When Xiao Hongyao woke up, he found himself lying alone. Feeling wronged, he quickly got up and went to complain to his mother, "Mother, Mother."
The little legs moved incredibly fast, and the child's innocent voice was filled with a huffy tone.
At this moment, Jialuo had already gotten up and was getting ready. Hearing her son's voice, she turned around and looked at him. "Hongyao? What's wrong?"
"Mother, Father is bad! Father took Hongyao away!" Little Hongyao wanted to complain to his mother, to badly accuse Yinreng, thinking that someone as naughty as his father deserved a good spanking from his mother.
"Oh? Really? Come here, let your mother hug Hongyao. Your mother misses Hongyao. Come here, is Hongyao hungry?" Jialuo did not speak well of Yinreng in front of Hongyao. Instead, she looked surprised, as if she really knew nothing about this matter and that it was all the Crown Prince's doing.
Hongyao, held in his mother's arms, let out two soft, childish whimpers, "I'm hungry."
As she spoke, she touched her tummy, which was flat, probably because she hadn't eaten enough last night.
"Young Master, Young Master, you haven't washed up yet." The servant beside him was still reminding him. As soon as Prince Hongyao got up, he rushed over to find the Crown Princess.
"Bring up warm water to help the prince wash up," Jialuo instructed calmly after hearing the servant's words.
"You can't run around without washing up properly. Luckily you're here. If you went out, people would just say, 'Oh my, that Prince Hongyao, he ran out without washing up, all dirty.'"
Jialuo was still showing Hongyao how to do it, and when Hongyao saw this scene, he stomped his little feet in embarrassment.
I think it's really too much for my mother to say such things about Hongyao. How could Hongyao be such a person?
"I understand, Mother." Little Hongyao was so ashamed that he didn't dare to face anyone. He felt he had lost face and buried himself in his mother's arms.
"Xiaoqing, what activities are there today?" Jialuo knew that the Crown Prince had already left. It has to be said that going to see the Emperor and serving by his side was not something an ordinary person could do.
For example, someone as diligent and competitive as the Crown Prince couldn't do it himself.
"I heard that after the Emperor summoned the princes, he is preparing to hold a bukaku (traditional Chinese martial arts) ceremony." Xiaoqing reported the information she had gathered. It was only because the people there were setting up the venue that Xiaoqing was able to find out.
"Buku?" Jialuo was quite interested in this wrestling-like activity. Oh dear, in the middle of summer, she wondered if they would take off their shirts.
hiss--
"Wouldn't this be a bit too exciting?" She immediately looked down at Hongyao in her arms, her voice gentle and tender, "Hongyao, our Great Qing's Baturu will learn to play Buku in the future. Mother will take Hongyao to see other people play, okay?"
“Mother, Hongyao is also a Baturu of the Great Qing.” The three-year-old toddler raised his head and puffed out his chest. Although he didn’t quite understand what Baturu meant, it seemed that his grandfather, father, and mother were all praising Hongyao as a Baturu.
(Kangxi, Yinreng, and Jialuo: We are not praising you.)
Little Hongyao naturally wouldn't admit that those words weren't a compliment. His upright posture made Jialuo laugh. "Yes, yes, our Hongyao is a Baturu, the super powerful kind."
Little Hongyao was so pleased with the praise that his tail practically wagged. He ate breakfast with his mother until his belly was round and full.
After playing with her mother all day, she was taken to Emperor Kangxi's tent by her grandfather's men that evening.
Xiao Hongyao can get along well with anyone and never feels homesick. For example, right now, he is clinging to Kangxi and talking in a childish voice about his daily routine.
That night, Jialuo and Yinreng had another bedtime conversation.
Jialuo had some doubts. Did Yinreng know something? Did she seem like the kind of person who knew everything from astronomy to geography?
Finally, Yinreng learned from Jialuo that the Qing Dynasty eventually perished, destroyed by its own corruption and by the gunfire of Western countries…
These are the two main points I've summarized. I gleaned this from Jia Luo's few words. Yinreng was a clever man, and his actions had a dual purpose, just like those in the Ming Dynasty at that time.
The officials of the Ming Dynasty were corrupt one after another, and the eight major Shanxi merchants even colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. Although the enemy at that time was the Qing Dynasty, it also illustrates that the demise of each dynasty is actually traceable.
For example, in the present Qing Dynasty, Yinreng felt that corrupt officials should not be tolerated, and in addition, the strength of the Qing Dynasty should be developed.
Artillery fire...
This is a weapon that will be even more ferocious than swords in the future. Back then, Nurhaci was injured by the red cannon, and in the end, he also used the cannon to destroy the Ming Dynasty.
But is it really that powerful?
We need to have someone investigate this, but if we investigate it ourselves, we certainly won't be able to hide it from Father Emperor. So, let Father Emperor's people investigate it.
By the way, did the Emperor's smallpox vaccine research succeed? So much time has passed.
He had smallpox, but his son Hongyao hadn't.
He gently rubbed his Crown Princess's head, but unfortunately, her little head wasn't very bright; she didn't remember as many things as Lady Guarjia.
He didn't ask how people would live in the future. The life of the Qing Dynasty required him, as the crown prince, to lead everyone step by step towards a better life.
After thinking about the Ninth and Tenth Princes, I thought, why not wait until they persuaded Father Emperor to lift the sea ban, then start building ships and go to the Western Ocean to see what's going on?
Many ideas swirled in Yinreng's mind, but they all needed to be realized gradually.
On the third day, after the audience with the various princes, the arena that had been set up began to attract other people.
The Baturu and the strong Mongolian men of the Qing Dynasty all wanted to show their abilities to the emperor, just to get the emperor to notice them. If the emperor took a liking to their abilities, they might be able to rise to prominence.
The princes, the heir apparent, and their wives sat outside the arena, while the innermost high platform was naturally reserved for the emperor.
The location is probably similar to that of an annual palace banquet.
Jialuo sat with the First and Fourth Princesses, but none of them chatted. Instead, they focused their attention on the arena.
"Oh dear, I wonder who will be on stage for our Great Qing later? Sister-in-law, is Brother going to go on stage?" Jialuo secretly munched on sunflower seeds, seeing that Buku was soulless without sunflower seeds.
Seeing the Crown Princess's relaxed and carefree expression, the First Princess Consort was no longer nervous.
“Of course, how could he not participate in something like this?” The First Princess nodded. If Yinti didn’t show off in this kind of event, he wouldn’t be able to show off once they returned to the capital.
Based on the First Consort's understanding of Yinti, she would definitely boast that she would strive to become the number one Baturu, leaving Yinreng to stare at her helplessly.
"Haha, I believe it, my elder brother can definitely do it." Jialuo laughed there, and the fourth prince's wife, Guarjia, next to her also understood that the fourth prince, Yinzhen, would not be able to get away with this.
Among all his brothers, Yinzhen must have been the weakest, right? He could only draw a bow with four and a half strength.
However, the struggle for the throne is not about who can fight better or show off more; it's about who can stay calm and keep a low profile.
Back then, no one expected that the emperor would ultimately choose Prince Yong, Yinzhen, as his successor.
Because of the national treasury's debt collection, Yinzhen had developed 'hatred' with many officials. Who would be willing to swallow the silver that had been lent out?
Everyone thought that a loyal and capable minister like Yinzhen would be lucky to continue serving once one of his brothers ascended to the throne.
Without the support of a single minister, what great things can be accomplished?
Ultimately, it was proven that the struggle for the throne did not depend on whether there were court officials supporting the emperor, but rather on who the emperor himself favored.
Buku? She didn't want to see it. However, after following him for so many days, Yinzhen hadn't come to visit her once. It was one thing on the way, but once they arrived at the grasslands, she was either serving her father or waiting for orders by his side.
The eldest brother and the crown prince would ride horses across the vast grasslands with the eldest princess and the crown princess. I heard that he even led the horse for the crown princess.
Upon hearing this, Fourth Prince Consort Guarjia was still thinking, "Is this still the noble and proud Crown Prince I know? Leading a horse? You mean the Crown Prince is leading a horse for a woman?"
Guarjia never dared to imagine such a thing would happen, but they all spoke with such conviction that Guarjia had no choice but to believe them.
Unexpectedly, after her rebirth, even the Crown Prince had changed. The Crown Prince in her previous life had never done such a thing. Even Li Jia, who was quite favored by him, did not dare to be presumptuous in front of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Who exactly is Lady Fucha, that she could tame His Highness the Crown Prince to such an extent?
However, this thought was quickly suppressed. What good is it if His Highness the Crown Prince is good? In any case, when His Highness the Crown Prince loses his glory, anyone can kick him while he's down.
Why envy?
I am the one who will one day rule the world.
Only after comforting oneself in this way can one treat others with a normal mindset, such as the Crown Princess Fucha.
"Fourth sister-in-law, are you in a bad mood?" Although she didn't particularly like the Fourth Prince's wife, Lady Guarjia, the First Prince's wife still spoke up to show her concern out of politeness.
"I'm fine," Guarjia said, gently shaking her head.
Upon hearing that Lady Guarjia said she was alright, the First Princess believed her, saying, "It's good that she's alright."
Then, he turned back and went to talk and chat with the Crown Princess.
The neglected Guarjia clanswoman was once again displeased. She thought to herself, "Let's see how carefree you are. When you die young, Father Emperor will make arrangements for your princesses."
After a while, everyone had taken their seats, and then Kangxi came over with his sons, holding the hand of his young grandson Hongyao.
Looking at Xiao Hongyao's delicate and adorable little face, with a bright and sweet smile on his face, I could see a hint of something else.
He was clearly a good-natured young prince, and the wives of the princes would certainly shower him with praise, from his appearance to his character to his intelligence...
In just a glance, he praised the emperor's young grandson to be so outstanding that he was unparalleled in heaven and earth. Kangxi nodded with a smile, completely unaware of the meaning of humility.
Then, Buku began.
Yinti, being a heavyweight contender who was to be the final act, naturally came on later. Otherwise, what if he ran out of energy and lost face in front of the Baturu of the various Mongol tribes?
When Jialuo saw the group of men come on stage, they were all quite strong. Although she preferred noble and handsome men like the Crown Prince, she could also appreciate strong and muscular men.
As soon as the Mongolian men stepped onto the ring, their eyes swept over them, scanning their appearance. At first, it was no different from watching a wrestling match, and Jialu even nodded with a hint of approval.
When Yinreng saw Jialuo's action, he frowned slightly.
Look at what the Crown Princess is saying.
He looks good? And he seems quite strong? What? You think he's not strong enough? Who was begging last night not to be so heavy, saying they couldn't take it?
However, after glancing at the Crown Princess for a few seconds, Yinreng's gaze drifted to the group of men, and he commented on each of them, expressing his disdain for their vulgarity and recklessness.
When the eldest son appeared, Yinreng watched him properly, not focusing his attention on the Crown Princess.
Compared to some muscular giants who are about two meters tall, Yinti's height and weight are far inferior in appearance.
Therefore, the moment he stepped onto the platform, many people in the Qing Dynasty fixed their gazes on Yinti, their eyes filled with worry and tension.
No matter what, Yinti is still a prince of the Qing Dynasty. If he were to be defeated so easily and step down in disgrace, it would be a real slap in the face.
Emperor Kangxi was somewhat worried about Yinti's behavior at this moment. After all, he had brought so many sons here to show off, not to play.
Kangxi naturally hoped that Yinti would win, but looking at the size difference between them, he was also afraid that his son would be thrown off the stage in no time, which would be a huge embarrassment.
start.
Upon seeing Yinti appear, Xiao Hongyao clapped his hands in shock and joy, looking up at Kangxi and exclaiming, "Grandpa, Grandpa, it's Uncle, Uncle!"
As she spoke, fearing that Kangxi might not be paying attention to her uncle, she reached out and tugged at her grandfather's clothes, then jumped up and down happily.
"Yes, that's right, he's your uncle." Kangxi nodded lightly, feeling somewhat helpless about Hongyao's tendency to happily mingle with anyone.
Yinqi is fine, why are you so agitated?
"Uncle, keep going, you're awesome!" The cheerful little Hongyao naturally didn't notice the hint of helplessness in his grandfather's eyes. He wiggled his chubby little body and clapped his hands to cheer for his uncle.
When Yinti heard his nephew cheering him on from the arena, his spirits changed completely, and he became much more energetic.
I can't afford to lose to my nephew, otherwise, what will become of my dignity as his uncle?
So, with Xiao Hongyao's applause, Yinti bravely defeated one after another.
In fact, Yinti was already quite exhausted, but his nephew was watching. If he lost, the Crown Prince would definitely speak ill of him to his nephew again.
In the future, when my son is born, my nephew might tell him embarrassing stories about me, like how I lost to someone in a game of buk. How can I face anyone in this world then?
Now, Yinti, who is still very concerned about his image, led the charge with the bugle, and the people below all thought... How did the eldest prince become so fierce?
Emperor Kangxi, sitting above, also thought his eldest son was quite good and loudly praised him.
Yinti, who came on during the middle of the match, barely managed to secure a victory when he was completely exhausted.
It's unclear whether this victory was won by Yinqi himself, or whether the Mongol tribes deliberately conceded it to save face for the Qing Dynasty.
Anyway, everyone was having a great time. Emperor Kangxi was so happy that he wanted to hold a bonfire party that evening, where everyone could come together, gather around the roasted meat, and dance...
Yinreng didn't even have a chance to question the Crown Princess about the strength of the men he was supposed to be with during the Buku incident. Her bright, sparkling eyes kept looking at other men. Did she think he didn't exist?
When asked to help, the Crown Prince grabbed Yinti and asked, "Brother, could it be that you lost your strength after the Bukku incident?"
This mere provocation instantly invigorated Yinti, making him feel incredibly strong and healthy again.
How could that be? As the strongest Baturu, how could such a small thing make me lose my strength?
However, after helping with the work, Yinti felt even more tired.
At the bonfire party.
Little Hongyao was buried in Kangxi's arms, and Kangxi even cut meat for him and fed it to him by hand.
Jialuo only glanced at him a few times before realizing how much her son was pampered. She didn't need to worry about this at all; he just ate his own food.
Meanwhile, the passionate and unrestrained Mongolian princess Aladachige took the initiative, her affectionate eyes fixed on the crown prince as she walked over and said, "Your Highness, may I invite you to dance with me?"
After a long investigation, Ala Daqige finally discovered that the person she fell in love with at first sight was actually His Highness the Crown Prince.
She had been worried that if her status was too low, Abu might not agree to the marriage. But now it's all good. If she marries the Crown Prince, she might become his favorite concubine and the one he cherishes most.
I was reminded of Hailanzhu of Khorchin, who was deeply favored by the Qing emperors.
She is so beautiful, a woman of a completely different style from the Crown Princess. Even His Highness the Crown Prince, having tasted too much of the same thing, would want a change.
Seeing the princess's invitation, Yinreng looked at Yinti beside him and asked, "Brother, didn't you become the number one in the bukku this afternoon? Why didn't anyone invite you?"
The attempt to shift blame back to Yinreng backfired, and Yinreng misinterpreted it as sarcasm. Yinreng's eyes flashed with fury as he glared at Yinreng. "How could there not be? It's just that the other princesses are more reserved and embarrassed. Unlike this princess, who is so shameless, inviting a man to dance in public! Humph!"
As the most beloved woman of the Tumed tribe's king, Aladachige had never been spoken to like that by anyone.
That face, which was originally radiant and full of affection, now looked rather unpleasant as it gazed at the eldest prince, Yinti.
"Please, Your Highness, watch your words." Ala Daqige was at least somewhat rational and knew her own status; she was not worthy to argue with the First Prince, so she could only keep all her anger to herself.
"What do you mean, sir? Am I wrong?" Yinqi glared angrily, shouting without any attempt to hide his anger.
Ala Daqige's behavior was quite abrupt at the bonfire party, attracting the attention of countless people, including Emperor Kangxi, who was sitting at the top of the table.
When he learned that this was to find the Crown Prince, his expression furrowed slightly, because Kangxi had never intended for the Crown Prince to be involved with the Mongol tribes.
If one relies on the advantages of the Mongol tribes to ascend the throne, wouldn't it be like the harem of the previous emperor if one gets involved in such matters in the future?
When there are intertwined interests, it's impossible for only one party to give and the other to take.
However, just as Kangxi was silently observing the Crown Prince's reaction, he overheard their conversation and nearly choked on his wine. He thought to himself, "Well, I shouldn't drink so much."
He put down his wine glass, pretending to be eating meat, but actually his ears were practically perked up, trying to hear what they were saying.
When Ala Daqige heard Yinti's words, she was so angry that her face turned red. She could only look to His Highness the Crown Prince for help, hoping that His Highness would show mercy to her.
However, it is clear that His Highness the Crown Prince has never been one to cherish women. Even if he were, his love and affection would only belong to the Crown Princess.
Sure enough, Aladachige looked at His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time, but His Highness did not say a single word for her.
Only the Third Prince, sitting next to her, felt a pang of pity for the young and beautiful princess as he watched her look so wronged and her eyes well up with tears.
"Brother, Your Highness, you shouldn't talk about her like that. This princess, shall I dance with you?" The so-called dance was nothing more than a group of people crammed together, performing a Yangko dance.
Unlike the Qing Dynasty after it entered the Central Plains, the Mongolians were not greatly influenced by Han Chinese culture, so they did not consider it indecent for so many men and women to dance together.
Ala Daqige, who had been rescued, was immediately moved to tears and looked at the Third Prince Yinzhi. She also noticed that the Third Prince Yinzhi was a man of similar type to His Highness the Crown Prince, gentle and refined, with an elegant demeanor.
"Okay." She agreed immediately, and as for His Highness the Crown Prince... he had already been completely forgotten by Ala Daqige.
The eldest prince, Yinti, and the crown prince, Yinreng, were completely unconcerned about their relationship being stolen. Yinti even mocked the crown prince, saying, "They don't even like you anymore. You're not even as good as the third prince."
"Oh, elder brother is indeed stronger than all of us. At least I had someone invite me, while elder brother... didn't have a single one." Yinreng nodded as if he understood, but the words he said made Yinti so angry that he wanted to hit someone.
"What do you mean 'no'? I simply look down on them." Of course, Yinti didn't want to lose face in front of Yinreng in this regard.
She immediately stiffened her neck, her voice filled with anger, and directly retorted to Yinreng.
"Oh?" Yinreng seemed to believe him, but the slight upward tilt in his voice was enough to make Yinti so angry that he wanted to fight Yinreng on the spot.
Little Hongyao, who was being fed roasted meat by his grandfather, struggled to get out of Kangxi's arms when he saw his father and uncle arguing.
"Grandpa, Father, Father, you and Uncle had a fight." Little Hongyao frowned in distress, because he had rarely seen his father argue.
In Xiao Hongyao's heart, his father has always been a noble and elegant figure.
Hearing Hongyao's worried words, Kangxi glanced at him, feeling somewhat helpless and unwilling to pay attention, as it would be embarrassing.
"Then go and keep your father and uncle company, and tell them to stop arguing." After putting down Xiao Hongyao, Kangxi let Xiao Hongyao do whatever he wanted.
Honestly, neither the eldest brother nor Baocheng seem to realize what kind of situation this is. If they're going to argue, they should do it back in the capital. Isn't this just making a fool of themselves in front of all the Mongol tribes?
Also, what's going on with the third brother?
His gaze flickered again in the direction of the third brother, seeing him having so much fun with Aladachige from the Tumed tribe, and he became genuinely worried…
However, the third son is not the crown prince and will not ascend the throne in the future, so there is no need to worry about the problems he is concerned about.
The marriage alliance between the Qing Dynasty and Mongolia has existed since ancient times (before the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains). Princesses could marry into Mongolia, and the third prince could also take a Mongolian princess as a concubine.
She is, after all, the daughter of the Tumed tribe's prince, and to only give her the title of a princess is indeed a bit stingy, especially since the third prince has not yet been granted a title.
While Kangxi was worrying about this problem, little Hongyao had already run over with his short legs.
Squeezed between Yinti and the Crown Prince, his adorable little face was all serious, just like the Fourth Prince Yinzhen next to him. His little hands held down Yinti and the Crown Prince, "Uncle, Father, you two can't fight."
This is nothing like Hongyao's usual behavior; Hongyao doesn't even argue with people anymore.
Although Hongyao didn't say those words, his expression clearly revealed his true feelings.
For example, the Fourth Prince Yinzhen, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Hongyao sigh and shake his head in such a pretentious manner: "That's right, he's not as obedient as Hongyao. However, the Crown Prince's son is indeed cute and intelligent."
Having been stepped on and then praised for his son, Yinreng didn't want to pay any attention to Yinzhen. Instead, he hugged his chubby son and sat him down in front of him. "Why did Hongyao come here? Did Grandfather not give our Hongyao enough meat to eat?"
After saying that, he reached out and touched Hongyao's little belly.
Yinti then cut off a piece of freshly roasted meat for Hongyao to eat. Hongyao accepted it without hesitation, taking a big bite with a loud "woof," looking incredibly adorable.
After taking a bite, perhaps feeling indebted to his uncle for the food he had eaten, Hongyao felt a little embarrassed to say anything to him.
"Anyway, you guys can't fight anymore, okay?" Little Hongyao said, burying himself in his father's arms and looking at his father with a childish voice, "Father, fighting is not good. Hongyao never fights with anyone."
"Heh, you want to argue? Who can you argue with? Who can you win an argument with?" Yinreng raised an eyebrow and pinched Xiao Hongyao's cheek with a smile.
When asked the question, Xiao Hongyao frowned, his brows furrowed in thought. Hongyao, Hongyao, has never argued before, and of course, he doesn't know who he could win an argument with.
"Alright, stop bullying Hongyao. Hongyao, come here, your uncle will give you some meat." He wanted to soak up some of the chubby baby's good fortune. The baby was handsome and intelligent, and in three years, he could finally have a son.
Yinreng would never give his son to Yinti.
It all started because of a princess, but now it's because of a prince.
The above refers to Emperor Kangxi: ...
Fine, do whatever you want. Anyway, Yinti has made him look good today.
On the women's side, the First Princess and the Crown Princess both heard the argument between the First Prince and Yinreng. The words they were saying were so childish, almost like those of a three- or five-year-old kindergarten child.
The Grand Princess and the Crown Princess ignored them. Someone was in charge of grilling meat and serving Mongolian milk tea. They ate with great relish, taking a sip of milk tea and a bite of grilled meat.
"This mutton is quite good, Your Highness, please have some." The First Princess Consort seemed to have been rejuvenated after her trip, and she was much more energetic.
There was nothing she could do; what could she do when Yinti was so stubborn? Believing the Crown Prince's so-called secret formula for conceiving a son, she could only focus on conditioning her body, calming herself down, and preparing to give birth to a son in three years.
It must be said that the First Princess and the First Prince are indeed a perfect couple, sharing the same thoughts.
When a huge, thick skewer of lamb was handed to me, it was sizzling and smelled amazing. But just as I was about to pick it up and eat it, I felt a bit nauseous from the greasiness...
(End of this chapter)
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